Beep in the bart of Bexas.
I mentioned in the pregame that Joe Ryan had once again become the team’s number-one starter, in the wake of injuries to the entire rotation and underperformance by some of its veteran members. But in a stretch lean on stepping-up, Joe was able to turn in the kind of start the club requires of him, dealing 7 innings of two-hit ball against Houston and striking out seven.
A two-run homer by Yanier Diaz was the only effort the Stros could muster against Ryan, whose ERA sits at a robust 2.93 after today’s action.
The third-inning blow came early enough to warrant “here we go again” reactions, but Minnesota didn’t take long to catch up. In the fifth inning, Carlos Correa singled his way aboard, and Brooks Lee pounced on a first-pitch cutter to even the score at two apiece.
That score would hold through the rest of the middle innings, but there was still plenty of drama for fans of Twin injuries, as Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the sixth; while he stayed in and stole second, he came out of the game in the seventh. The injury gods have been cooking this series, as we are still waiting on Royce Lewis’ latest MRI.
A shutout eighth, courtesy of Griffin Jax, brought the Twins into the ninth with the game still tied.
A one-run ninth, courtesy of Jhoan Duran, meant that the game was over.
With two runners already on via single and walk, Cam Smith grounded one back up the middle and guaranteed yet another series loss for a truly struggling Twins club.
The series, already lost, nevertheless concludes tomorrow, where Houston will go for the sweep, and Minnesota will desperately try to fend off further horrendous vibes.
See you then???
STUDS:
SP Joe Ryan (7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
3B Brooks Lee (1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, HR)
DUDS:
RP Jhoan Duran (0.2 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, K, L)
Numerous 3-K performances by Twins hitting